Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-05-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-05-01

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. The best test for feeder heifers was for 550-599 lbs which sold mostly 10.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Feeder cattle sold on mostly light demand and offerings. CME contracts continued last weeks sell off again today and with lower prices seen eight days in a row buyers all backed off prices and purchased feeders lower. Market activity this week was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed the best demand for cows this week as late spring storms have packers searching for cows. Packers bid aggressively against each other as they pushed to purchase cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Fewer cows returned to the country to feed this sale as fewer buyers were present this week. Feeding cows sold steady to weak as a result. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher as packers showed very good demand for high quality bulls. 2-3 year olds sold generally steady. Quality this week was not as attractive as the last few weeks, however demand remains mostly good.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $144.18/cwt on 162 head.

Average price

$144.18

162 head · 599 lb average

Value per head Derived

$863

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$15

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2

$12.62/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.13

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	521	148.18	772	13thin
Medium and Large 1	612	144.97	887	131
Medium and Large 2	558	135.56	757	18thin

One grade step is worth $12.62/cwt here — about $15 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale162 hd

144.18

—

MT average3 barns · 605 hd

146.31

−2.13

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,846	85.60	1,581	27
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,710	70.50	1,206	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,718	66.17	1,137	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,423	65.94	938	49
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,207	61.47	742	118

Every lot, as filed

40 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	924	57.60/cwt	53.00–60.50	532	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,424	61.11/cwt	59.50–62.50	870	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,416	71.63/cwt	69.00–73.00	1,014	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,197	59.41/cwt	52.00–62.50	711	62
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,253	64.13/cwt	62.50–66.00	804	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,424	66.08/cwt	64.00–68.00	941	37
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,049	1,345.49/cwt	1,325.00–1,375.00	14,114	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	765	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	941	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,241	68.13/cwt	66.50–70.00	845	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,158	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	579	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,657	66.75/cwt	66.75–66.75	1,106	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,790	65.50/cwt	65.50–65.50	1,172	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	678	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	885	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,010	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,071	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,122	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	1,111	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	107	357.14/cwt	350.00–375.00	382	7
Bulls	—	—	2,248	97.58/cwt	94.00–105.00	2,194	5
Bulls	—	—	1,696	77.00/cwt	72.00–82.50	1,306	8
Bulls	—	—	1,789	86.23/cwt	83.00–91.00	1,543	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,011	100.49/cwt	80.00–128.00	1,016	59
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,142	82.56/cwt	69.00–102.00	943	26
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,558	1,250.00/cwt	1,250.00–1,250.00	19,475	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,335	1,400.00/cwt	1,400.00–1,400.00	18,690	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,321	66.89/cwt	62.00–74.00	884	30
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,350	58.27/cwt	57.00–59.00	787	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,324	62.55/cwt	62.00–64.00	828	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,577	66.30/cwt	63.00–69.00	1,046	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	821	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,067	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	526	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	931	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	682	147.92/cwt	147.50–150.00	1,009	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	773	135.45/cwt	132.00–139.00	1,047	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	894	125.50/cwt	125.50–125.50	1,122	15
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,495	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	1,002	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	723	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	904	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	622	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	815	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	507	139.20/cwt	139.00–140.00	706	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	521	148.18/cwt	146.00–150.00	772	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	595	147.82/cwt	147.50–148.00	880	110
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	669	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	917	7
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,710	70.50/cwt	70.50–70.50	1,206	15

How this sale compares

Montana weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →